Getting to know the Fast Feed clipper

A lot can be said about Oster’s Fast Feed clippers. Let’s start with the usual: they weigh the standard 1 lbs. Considering their output, this is just the right weight – you have a professional hair cutter here.

Fast Feeds stick to the basics of Oster’s product line: vintage looks in a classy burgundy color that leans on the darker side. The cord is also pretty solid and of high quality:

You’ll receive three combs (1/4″, 3/8″ and 1/2″) with the set, all along with a blending comb that’s nifty for fading action. Of course, Oster have prepared the usual maintenance kit – cleaning brush, blade guard and a little tube of clipper oil too.

Note: If you want to get all 8 guards, there’s also Fast Feeds with the whole kit included here.

I’ll talk about the guards a bit later. First, I want to focus on the sexiness of the Fast Feeds. That’s right, I just used the word “sexy” for a set of Oster hair clippers. Here’s why:

Fast Feed clippers have a very comfortable grip due to their shape and quality of the material.

Unlike many other barber hair cutters, they stay cooler for longer periods of time.

They’re quiet. You can enjoy your blissful moments of buzzing without a machine roaring in your ears.

Three extremely important points and three wins for this model, which you should take into account. Furthermore, even when the Feeds get hotter, they will be warm instead of the more sizzling heat you might experience with some heavy-duty models.

These Oster clippers are quite versatile in their use. Let me talk about their blades so you understand their possible applications better.

Oster Fast Feed blades & applications

First things first: this is an adjustable blade clipper. In other words, you use a side lever to control the cutting length of the Fast Feed blades.

The same as standard adjustable hair clippers, this model lets you go from #000 to #1. This means you adjust from 1/50″ to 3/32″ as we explain in our extensive guide on clipper sizes. Take a look at the blades:

Looks quite sharp and sturdy, right? Because it is.

Oster tend to put their clipper blades through very harsh cold conditions, cryogenically testing them. This means the stainless steel, carbonized blade becomes even sharper and lasts for a longer period of time.

The black lever on the side is the exact same “arm” you’ll use to adjust the cutting length. You’ll also notice that the spacing between the teeth. This is what makes the Fast Feeds quite adept at cutting coarse and thick hair properly.

The blade quality is one of the reasons we’ve included this Oster clipper in our list of the best fading clippers. Don’t doubt its versatility, though – its quiet and cool operation makes it quite the amazing clipper for beginners and home users too.

At the same time, the Fast Feeds aren’t great for bulk cutting. I suggest you reserve them as a sidekick to heavy-duty clippers like the Oster 76, Wahl Senior or Andis Master if you plan on cutting volumes of hair.

While the pivot motor of the 76023-510 Fast Feed clippers is powerful enough, it’s no match for a Seniors motor or the capabilities of the Classic 76. And without a very powerful motor to “feed” the clipper, bulk cutting will be a bit difficult.

Various designs to pick from

If you want to stand out from the rest, the Oster Fast Feed clipper comes in many variations.

You have eye-candies like famous Woodgrain Fast Feeds, Snake skin or Driftwood customized clippers…And of course, you have my favorite: the Oster Fast Feed Club Tattoo version:

Not the balding clipper you’re looking for

For people looking to nail the slick bald looks, the Fast Feed clippers won’t quite suit you. As with bulk cutting that got mentioned before, serving as a balding clipper simply isn’t one of this Oster cutter’s purposes.

I suggest you head to the best balding clippers list we’ve prepared for you and take your pick from the haircutting machines presented there.

Final verdict

If you’re a casual user who wants to touch on a semi-pro territory, this is one of the best hair clippers for you.

It’s ergonomic, quiet, doesn’t heat too much and will get that buzzcut you want to land right.

For barbers starting out, this is a great tool for beginners. Just remember to get something more heavy-duty ready as your main bulk hair cutter.

I assure you. You’ll be more than delighted by one of the medium-budget market kings. You just have to know its boundaries.

4 Comments

Does “bulk cutting” mean cutting lots of people’s hair all in a row non-stop, like at a barbershop? Or does it mean cutting lots of hair off a single person?

Here is why I ask: I need a good quality clippers to do home haircuts – me and the two kids. Our current Conairs are crap. No fancy fades or balding going on here – I’m talking about clipping maybe ear length hair every month or so with 1/4 and 1/2 inch combs.

I’m inclined to buy the best available. But Oster 76 is too beastly for my wife to use. Andis Master seems solid but the reviews paint it as unforgiving to amateurs. I’ve read that the Wahl Senior gets painfully hot. But I also don’t want to get a Fast Feed only to have it choke like the Conair.

Your website has been invaluable, but any help you can provide would be great.

Yes, when me and Ryan use ‘bulk cutting’, it’s mainly used as a term for heavy-duty, professional use. Busy barbershops are way more intense than a few heads of hair back home.

In other words, I think you should be fine with the Fast Feed in your case.

I get the part with your wife – Oster Classic 76 is too heavy for anyone, haha. Ryan respects it, but it’s too huge/much of a hassle for me too.

Aside from the Fast Feeds, you might want to take a look at the Wahl 5 star cordless Magic Clip. It’s very lightweight, cordless (I can imagine this being handy for family cuts), has nice battery life and its blades are even more precise/ready for thicker hair cutting.

But, once again, in your case, the Fast Feed shouldn’t be an issue imo.

I’d be too harsh on Conairs if I voiced my opinion…but I fully understand your troubles with them.

Hey there! I need help. I am looking to get a second pair of these clippers and I want to buy replacement blades for the guard length I like. (I shave my whole head and face the same length once a month!) My problem is this – I find the blending guard is the length I want. What replacement blade should i get to match the blending guards length? A #1 a #1A? Thanks for any help!

Hi, Looking for some advice. I cut my own hair with a friends wahl icons. I’m looking for my own clippers and want the best for a level 1 all around. No fades. Hoping to keep the clippers for around 10 years so they need to be strong. I have african hair coarse hair. I’m thinking between the fast feeds and Oster 97 (they’re the UK plug 76) What would you recommend?